FERNS FOR THE HOUSE. 



27 



Fig. 2227. Pteris Argyrea. 



celled in beauty, either in form or color, the 

 broad rich silver marking^s of its large 

 g-raceful fronds make it an object of attraction 

 to all fern-lovers. It is seldom, however, 

 that a perfectly grown specimen of this fern 

 is seen, as it requires exceptionally gfood 

 culture to produce a good specimen. 



The Nephrolepis (Sword fern) gives us 

 several types very useful as house or window 

 ferns. The popular Boston fern (Nephrolepis 

 Bostoniensis) is perhaps the most graceful, 

 as well as one of the easiest of culture 

 amongst ferns, its long arching fronds mak- 

 ing it particularly adapted for furnishing 

 large jardinieres, mantels, etc. Nephrolepis 

 exaltata or the true Sword fern is also a 

 useful house or window plant, but is not as 

 robust as the Boston fern. The dwarfer 

 growing types of this fern, N. cordata com- 

 pacta, and N. phillipensis are useful ferns, 

 but not as enduring or lasting in a house as 

 N. Bostoniensis. 



Another pretty and useful fern for house 



culture and one that until recently*has been 

 little seen, either as a house or window 

 plant is the dwarf, dense growing Aspidium 

 coriaceum or leather fern, deservedly taking 

 the latter name from the extremely tough 

 texture of its fronds as compared with many 

 ferns. This characteristic enables this fern 

 to resist the bad effects that a dry atmos- 

 phere produces on ferns for a much longer 

 period than many others. Its dense, dwarf 

 habit is also another feature that recom- 

 mends it either for the window or green- 

 house, or for house decoration. I have 

 known plants of this fern retain their 

 freshness for a longer period than many 

 house plants such as palms and cordylines, 

 without any extra care being bestowed on 

 them. 



The graceful growing Asplenium bulbi- 

 ferum cannot be omitted from the list of 

 ferns suitable for a window or for house de- 

 coration, but it succumbs sooner to drought 

 and a dry atmosphere than some of the 

 others I have mentioned. The long spear- 

 like, hard fronds of Asplenium marinum 

 (another distinct type of Asplenium) makes 

 a most enduring and pretty fern for the 

 house or window and is very easy to grow. 



Amongst our native ferns that are espec- 



FiG. 2228. Pteris Cretica. 



